New chapter: annual conference highlights expanding library role

16 June, 2008

The SCONUL Annual Conference concluded on Friday 13 June after three days which showcased the increasing number of services being offered by academic libraries in the UK and Ireland.

Speakers included Dr Ian Rowlands of University College London, Dr Malcolm Read from JISC and Dr Alex Byrne of Sydney University of Technology. Many presentations highlighted how the high expectations of students and academics mean libraries are now mastering a wave of new services, including the desktop delivery of research papers, web 2.0 applications for students and the management of institutional repositories (databases of their own universities' research publications).

Toby Bainton, Secretary of SCONUL said,

"Libraries are at the heart of the university experience for both students and academics. This conference showed how academic libraries are continually improving both in scope and efficiency, and taking on ever increasing responsibilities. A clear new need is the preservation of raw data gathered during research.

Given the conference's success, I'd like to thank all our members in Edinburgh for providing such a fantastic location."


Notes to editors

SCONUL - the Society of College, National and University Libraries - is the membership body for UK and Irish higher education and national libraries. It works to promote excellence in library services in higher education and national libraries across the UK and Ireland and most of its activities are carried out by the heads of library services, often through SCONUL's range of expert groups or our Executive Board.

To arrange to arrange an interview with the Programme Director/previous participants, images or more information please contact John Hood or Elliot Frankal on 020 7089 2080 john@linstockcommunications.com